Around The World Dinner

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 @7:00pm

Hosted by: Penny & Buddy Cummings

Where: Momocho, 1835 Fulton Rd., Ohio City (216/694-2122)

Who: Hosted by Penny & Buddy Cummings, arlomom@aol.com, 330/769-2675

Cleveland Scene Review

Clever cuisine, playful decor, and intimate surroundings make this "modern Mexican" eatery like nothing else in town. Don't come 'round looking for refried beans and rice; luscious lamb "adobo" and avocado-leaf-crusted tuna are more Momocho's style. Factor in the fruit-infused margaritas, chilada-style beers, and the smart array of tequilas, and even the fiercest bandito would happily pull up a chair.

Excerpts from Plain Dealer Review: August 4, 2006

At first, Momocho made sly hints at seduction: a suspiciously cool waitress bearing a basket of fresh-fried chips -- chips so hot that the air shimmered above them. Billows of creamy guacamole arrived, tinged with smoked trout and bacon. Then a clear-tinted margarita washed the scene down. Would this great meal go on? We have been teased before by intrigue and left behind with sighs. We didn't want the disappointment again. But things continued to click at Momocho, a new "modern Mexican" restaurant in the former Fulton Cafe, where the adventures kept coming.

We fell completely for the simplicity of sea-fresh, white-fleshed halibut ($18) simply set in tomato-red Veracruz sauce. And we were helpless for the adobo lamb chops ($19.50), caramelized mahogany outside and as creamy grained inside as the jalapeno mustard sauce over them. This is a candidate for meal of the year, side-dressed with goat-cheese guacamole and lightly sauteed spinach tossed with raisins and pumpkin seeds.

We were having a wildly good time. Our server sweetened up once we started ordering drinks. The place left us wanting more. We want to try the flight of tequilas, something we have only dared to order out of town, where we are less known. Or the pork chop al carbon, which we were told was as good as the lamb chops. We talked about food more than usual on both visits. There has not been this much to say about Mexican dinner here in a long time. Viva Momocho.

Check out reviews by local patrons at www.clevelandnights.com

Check out the menu at the restaurant’s website, www.momocho.com